2025 Mount Mercy Baseball Season Preview
The Mount Mercy Mustangs baseball team enters the 2025 season with momentum after a historic 2024 campaign. Capturing their first-ever Heart of America Athletic Conference championship and earning a berth in the NAIA national tournament, the Mustangs demonstrated their potential to compete on a national stage. With a strong mix of returning talent, key newcomers, and a competitive schedule ahead, the team looks to build on its success and contend for another conference title.
Returning Players
Key contributors from last year's squad will anchor the 2025 team. Senior left-handed pitcher Ashton Schwab returns as the team's ace after finishing the 2024 season with a perfect 7-0 record and a 3.00 ERA over 69 innings pitched. Schwab's consistency on the mound, evidenced by his 79 strikeouts and team-leading 10 starts, will be critical in setting the tone for the pitching staff.
Senior infielder Jeremy Figueroa, a versatile presence in the infield, also returns following a productive offensive season. Figueroa posted a .274 batting average with 34 hits, eight doubles, and two home runs, while also stealing 11 bases in 13 attempts. His ability to contribute offensively and defensively makes him a vital piece of the Mustangs' lineup.
Senior infielder Jaden Hackbarth, another key returner, will look to improve upon his 2024 performance. Hackbarth hit .253 across 47 games, contributing three home runs and driving in 14 runs. His experience and leadership will provide stability in the Mustangs' infield.
Key Departures
The Mustangs will need to compensate for the loss of several standout players from last season. Catcher Trent Hoogerwerf, who led the team in RBIs with 42 and hit .340, has graduated. Additionally, infielder Tyler Dahm (.347 average, 21 RBIs) and outfielder Joel Vaske (.346 average, 12 home runs, 31 RBIs) leave significant voids in the lineup. Their offensive production was instrumental in the Mustangs' championship run, and their contributions to the lineup will be felt.
Newcomers to Watch
Mount Mercy welcomes a promising group of newcomers poised to make an impact. Senior right-handed pitcher Jake Weissenberger, a transfer from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, brings depth and experience to the pitching staff. His ability to eat innings and compete in high-leverage situations will be invaluable. In his limited time at Missouri-St. Louis, Weissenberger would appear in four games, pitching two innings and striking out one.
Senior right-handed pitcher Owen Coffman, a towering presence at 6-foot-10, joins the team after transferring from Ball State University. Coffman's size and skill set have the potential to disrupt opposing offenses, adding another weapon to the Mustangs' rotation.
Freshman infielder Drew Terpins enters his first collegiate season with the potential to contribute immediately. A product of Mount Prospect High School in Illinois, Terpins' athleticism and defensive skills will be key assets for the team.
2024 Season Recap
The Mustangs concluded the 2024 season with a 34-22 overall record, including a 23-9 mark in Heart conference play. The team excelled at home with an 18-4 record, including going a perfect 16-0 at home during conference play, and was particularly effective in high-scoring games, posting a 13-4 record in contests decided by five or more runs. Their offensive output was led by a team batting average of .294 and 52 home runs, which highlighted the lineup's power potential.
Pitching was another area of strength, with the staff posting a combined ERA of 5.31. The rotation featured seven complete games, with Schwab, Josh Fleming (6-1, 3.86 ERA), and Kyle Lehmann (5-6, 5.24 ERA) providing stability throughout the season.
The Mustangs carried their regular-season success into the postseason, capturing the Heart championship with victories over Grand View, MidAmerica Nazarene, Central Methodist, and Park. In the NAIA tournament, the team secured wins against St. Francis (Ill.) and Doane before dropping a contest to nationally ranked Southeastern and Science and Arts.
Outlook for 2025
The Mustangs will aim to replicate and surpass their 2024 achievements, but success will depend on how quickly the roster adjusts to key losses and integrates newcomers. The pitching staff appears to be a strength, led by Schwab and bolstered by the arrivals of Weissenberger and Coffman. Offensively, Figueroa and Hackbarth will be relied upon to lead the lineup, while players such as Bryce Brown and Josh Notriano may see expanded roles.
The 2025 schedule promises to test the Mustangs early and often, providing opportunities to solidify their identity before entering conference play. If the returning core can maintain their high level of performance and the newcomers deliver as expected, Mount Mercy has the tools to contend for another conference championship and make a deeper run in the NAIA tournament.
With a program-defining season behind them, the Mustangs have set the standard for success and enter 2025 with confidence.